The Business of Primary

Stake Primary is a different kind of busyness. 

A lot of it is at home busyness. Lots of prayer, lots of preparing. 

The last couple of months I have been working {hard!} on three things:

1. Stake Primary Auxiliary Meeting

2. A proposal for Stake Baptism Day (a big change for Rock Springs!)

3. I had to speak at the Adult session of Stake Conference... which happened to be the same evening as my stake auxiliary meeting.

I wanted to remember all these things that I've spent so many prayers and hours on. So, they made the blog. :)

I taught about effective teaching to the primary presidencies in our stake at the auxiliary meeting. I made one of these books for everyone there...

Here's what I talked about (some of it's paraphrased of course) These were my notes: 

Primary Auxiliary Meeting 2014

Teaching Children

·        Turkey Story

a.     History of Aviation

b.     Techniques of Wing-span

c.      Traffic Control

d.     Flight Patterns

e.     Flight Practice

f.       And then they all walked home.

                                                              i.      What’s wrong with this story?

                                                            ii.      Don’t we want to make sure our Primary children aren’t “walking home” after we’ve taught them to fly?

Four Steps to helping our children learn more effectively

(Also, I know none of this is brand new to you. You are all fantastic teachers and leaders and could probably teach this course yourself. I am hoping and praying that the spirit will teach us all today and give us direction where we need it.)

1.     Meet each child’s needs—the best you can

a.     As I say this, please know that I don’t expect you to be mind readers or grow 4 extra arms to accomplish this.

                                                                          i.      We do the best we can and when we know better, we do better.

b.     Back in college I learned the real definition of FAIR. When we’re young, we’re pretty sure it means giving everyone the same thing, the same amount, etc.  But truly that is not the meaning of fairness. Fair means giving each person what he/she is in need of.

                                                                          i.      I studied special education and often in a regular school format when a student needs extra help or an aide, a regular ed teacher would say “that isn’t fair to my other students”. But the thing is—not all of the kids needed it.

                                                                        ii.      If ________ were to fall down on the ground, in need of CPR we would never say, “Well, I can’t give her CPR because I can’t give everyone CPR and that just wouldn’t be fair to everyone else”… No, if ________ needed it, we’d do everything possible to make sure she had it

c.      The same goes for our Primary Children. Don’t ever be afraid to provide something for a child because you cannot provide it for every child sitting in your primary room. Needs are different.

                                                                          i.      Gateway ward a small child was handed a reverent activity during opening exercises—now I don’t know anything about that child. I don’t know if he has a special need or if it’s challenging for him to be reverent, but his leaders do. They do him, they love him and they provided for him. Was everyone else handed a reverent activity? No, but no one else needed one.

2.     Help provide them with the right teacher

a.     How do we do this?

                                                                          i.      A combination of inspiration and ciphering—sometimes just calculating what will work is what we’ll have to do.

                                                                        ii.      The Lord has called you, He has faith in you. You won’t always need grand revelation to figure things out. Often, you do your best and when you don’t  get that “no” feeling, you know you’re doing it right and placing people in the right spots

                                                                      iii.      Sometimes you will have a strong feeling about someone being put somewhere

1.     But don’t wait around for the grand inspiration to come. Use some of your God given gifts—we’re women, talk to your teachers! Find out how they’re doing, their needs. Find out how they can provide for the children’s needs

a.     Story nursery leaders – shouldn’t have too old, shouldn’t have too young… in w.m. ward I know the nursery leaders… etc.

b.     We’re all different.

                                                                     iv.      Also, know your children and their needs.

1.     One may thrive with their parent as their teacher, another it may hinder them (again talk to your teachers!!)

2.     The brethren are a huge asset. If you are blessed enough to have a male teacher, make sure you are utilizing them. We often have children w/o the priesthood in their homes, or no father in their home, how beneficial would it be for them to have a priesthood leader, a male example teaching them about Jesus Christ. Now that could be the case in every class and you won’t have that many brethren. Again, use your best judgment and the spirit.  And place where the greatest need is.

3.     Teach Smart!

a.     What do you think is the most effective way to teach a child? (write on board…)

                                                                          i.      (have them look in bag pocket for %’s)

b.     How much do children retain what we teach—

5% lecture

10% reading

20%- audio visual

30%- demonstration

50%- engaged in group discussion

75%- when practice what they’ve learned

--?-- From Music!

90%- when they teach someone else what they’ve learned

psychotactics.com

c.   Chris Brewer founder LifeSounds ed services said this about music: “music (will) help your child retain information and enhance learning.” also: . “Students of all ages—that includes adults— generally find that music helps them focus more clearly on the task at hand and puts them in a better mood for learning,” says Brewer.

d.     I asked 4 the best educators I know what they thought the most effective way to teach was…

                                                                          i.      Knowing each child, having a positive rapport with them and working with their strengths

                                                                        ii.      Incorporate visual, auditory, kinesthetic in each lesson

                                                                      iii.      Show, do together, have them do it

e.     Are we teaching in the most effective ways?

f.       Are we bringing music into our lessons and sharing times?

4.     Teach with the spirit

a.     “If we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide us, we can teach any person, no matter how well educated, any place in the world. The Lord knows more than any of us, and if we are his servants, acting under his Spirit, he can deliver his message of salvation to each and every soul.” Dallin H Oaks

b.     So, how can we have the spirit with us?

                                                                          i.      Let them offer answers

                                                                        ii.      Answers in pocket

1.     Have a testimony of what you are teaching

2.     Invite the spirit through prayer

3.     Use and study the scriptures for and in your lesson

4.     Sing hymns

5.     Share experiences

6.     Testify

c.      2^nd verse to I am a child of God

                                                                          i.      Everyone sing

5.     testimony

*****

And here is my talk from that night:

Fellowshipping Talk 2014 Stake Conference

D&C 88:73 says: “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.” That time is now, brothers and sisters. I think every other conference talk was a testimony to that!

President Monson said, “The world is in need of your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity await you.”

So, whose job is it to hasten the work? President Winwards right. He’s our stake President, it must be his job. Or maybe your ward Bishop or RS president. President Monson said the world needs YOUR help. So, ya it is Prs. W’s and our Bishop’s, but it isn’t just theirs. It’s ours too. 

D&C 18:15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

How do we do this? How do we labor? Cry repentance? Bring souls unto Christ? Where do we start? I have a quote on my wall from President Hinckley it says: Try a little harder to be a little better.” To hasten the work, I think we just need to follow President Hinckley’s advice. Continue to do our callings, but maybe try a little harder. Continue to be a Home or Visiting teacher, but put forth a tad more effort.

I spoke with a friend a while ago. She told me about her inactive mother and expressed her extreme gratitude and love for her mother’s VTers. Two women that she’s never met. They have been persistent and consistent in coming to visit her mom. But my friend’s mom has been receiving special gifts from a secret friend on a regular basis as well. When she receives these gifts she always takes a picture and sends them to my friend, letting her know her special friend has made another visit. My friend has no doubt that this secret friend is a loving visiting teacher who is sincerely loving her mother and going the extra mile to make sure that that woman knows she’s loved.

In the women’s general conference meeting Bonnie Oscarson talked about her mother. She said at 5 years old her mother was walking to church alone. Why did she do this? “I had primary teachers who loved me.”

These are not examples of members knocking on doors or handing out Book of Mormons, these are examples of fellowshipping. Fellowshipping and honest and sincere love. Richard G Scott this conference spoke about himself, and the influences that changed his life for the better. His mother and his wife never made him feel bad about who he was. They loved him, sincerely and through their love he felt God’s love for him. He talked about Love being the foundation for helping others.

I know that the combination of love and fellowshipping can be miraculous and does indeed hasten our Lord’s work.

S Gifford Nielsen taught, “First, specifically pray to bring someone closer to the Savior and His gospel every day. You could do this by seeing all people as sons and daughters of God helping each other on their journey home. Think of the new friends you would make.

Second, pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day. The only way to do this is to greet them, look at their badge, call them by name, and ask them who they are teaching. Elder Russell M. Nelson wisely contributed, “Until you know a person’s name and face, the Lord cannot help you know his or her heart.”

I am certain we all know someone. Instead of praying in general for the missionaries Elder Nielsen teaches that we prayer specifically for someone—that’s when we see miracles happen.

Elder Nielsen also said, “This work is not going to move forward in the Lord’s intended way without us! As President Henry B Eyring has said, “Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls””

Fellowshipping help’s our father gather his children. I know this brothers and sisters because I was fellowshipped:

I grew up in a very loving home. I have 3 older siblings and two parents who loved each other as well as us kids. They taught us manners and kindness and to be selfless and giving. And although my mother loved the church, her sweet testimony was a fragile one. And without the support of her husband she often found it difficult to be at all times an active member of the church. But she did want her children to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She did want us to love our Savior. Even though her foundation may have been rocky. And so she made sure that all 4 of us kids were baptized.

At a young age I knew I loved the church. I didn’t understand or know everything—I still don’t, but I did know that the church was true. I tried hard to learn and to be active. But I wasn’t always good at it. We didn’t talk about church things or religion at home. My baptism… Around my baptism my mother quietly and privately, taught me to pray each night. My siblings were all much older than me. They grew up and left home, all good people, but none of them active members of the church.

As I got older and into Young Womens I had amazing leaders who loved me and taught me like no one else had up to that point. I could not miss church, because I could not miss seeing them or learning from them. There was a time when my mom stopped going to church and so I went by myself as a teenager. I don’t say this to point out how great I am, but to show how amazing and influential my leaders were. Had they not cared about my absence, had they blown it off like it wasn’t a big deal to have me gone, I don’t know that I would have made the effort that I had to, to get there.

I also made friends who changed my life. My friend Ruby’s father would give me father’s blessings. One day while eating dinner with their family, they invited me to take the missionary discussions in their home. I agreed and spent weeks learning and growing with Ruby’s family and the elders. One night they taught about eternal families…  And my desire for my own personal forever family was born.  Dad walk down isle, mom see me wed…   what I could control was my future family.

I went away to college and continued on my path. I met more good friends and I held new callings at college. I grew in the church. I left my mom and was grateful when she received a new calling.  It was always easier for mom to be active when she had a calling. She was called to be a relief society teacher. My mom didn’t like getting up in front of people. It scared her to death. But she accepted the call and her testimony grew more than ever. Her Relief Society President really took her under her wing, loved her, taught her, encouraged her in her call, in short she fellowshipped her.

I had prepared myself to go to the temple to be married alone. I knew my family wouldn’t be able to be there and I thought I was okay with that. When I called my mom to tell her that Jeff and I had become engaged she told me that she’d been taking the temple prep classes and was trying to get herself ready to go through the temple. I knew it was because of her RS calling and her loving RS president that she had made those strives and was ready for this step. And I felt such gratitude to my loving HF who had helped prepare her in this time so that I wouldn’t have to go alone.  (her rs pres by the way was my soon to be husband’s grandmother).

I guess I’m telling you all of this because I really don’t think I’d be here, standing in front of you today without all the people who fellowshipped me. When I think about my 3 amazing and wonderful siblings all of whom have different beliefs than me now, I have wondered why I was the only one to keep the church close and follow after it. And I think a huge part of that complicated question is: I was fellowshipped. And not a day goes by that I don’t pray for a kind VT, a good HT or a loving RS president to help me with my family. To fellowship my sisters and my brother.

End with a quote from our Prophet quoting President Gordon B Hinckley when he was the prophet: All of us here and abroad this evening must answer the call of our prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, to spare no effort in fellowshipping and reactivating those who need our help, our labors, and our testimonies.

****

Baptism's in Rock Springs have been the same for a long time. You pick your day, you plan it and do it when/how you want to. Honestly, as a mom it was kind of nice being able to make that day super special. But the church has grown a lot in Rock Springs and in the handbook it says we should have a Stake Baptism Day and that we should not ask for special days. The current way is really a burden on our Bishop's and Primary Presidency's. One Bishop had 3 baptisms in one day at 3 different times. So... it was time for a change. The Stake Presidency completely agreed and had me write up a proposal. With help from my presidency and President Hansen we re-vamped it and then I helped present it to the Bishop's in the Stake. I really think this will bless our stake and I just hope people will be open to the change.

Rock Springs Wyoming Stake

Format for Eight-year-old Baptisms

To comply with Handbook 2 and in effort to lighten the responsibilities of our Bishoprics and Ward Primary Presidencies, the following is a proposal for the implementation of monthly Stake Baptism Days in the Rock Springs, Wyoming Stake. 

1.      Stake Baptism Day will take place on the same day throughout the Stake

o   Stake Baptism Days will take place the last Saturday of each month

o   Baptismal services will begin at 10 a.m.

2.      The location of the baptism will be:

o   All Rock Springs Wards

§  White Mountain Building

o   Pinedale & Farson

§  Respective buildings

3.      Program Outline

	·         Location o   Chapel
	·         Welcome – Conducting High Councilman/Stake leader
	·         Opening Hymn
	·         Opening Prayer
	·         Talk on Baptism
	·         Musical Number
	·         Talk on the Holy Ghost
	·         Baptisms o   Each child, along with their friends and family, will be invited to the font
	·         Confirmation o   Following the baptism, those in attendance will be invited into smaller rooms for the Confirmation ·         Any personal items the family would like, music or testimony, should also be done at this time ·         Confirmation may also take place in Sacrament Meeting the following day.  Prior arrangements need to be made with the Bishop.
	·         Closing Prayer in respective rooms

4.       Assignments for Conducting High Councilman/Stake leader

§  Opening and closing the facility

§  Filling and draining the font

§  Assigning rooms

§  The Baptism Program

·         Assignments to consider for the program

o   Pianist

o   Chorister

o   Opening and Closing Songs

o   Talk on Baptism

o   Talk on Holy Ghost

o   Opening and Closing Prayers

o   Musical number

·         Family members of each child may be considered to fill these assignments

§  Who may attend

·         Family, friends and investigators

·         A Bishopric member to support the children from their ward

·         A Primary Presidency member to support the children from their ward

5.      Responsibilities of Ward Primary Presidencies

o   Carry out a Baptism Preview to help parents know what to expect for their child’s upcoming baptism

o   Inform the Bishopric of upcoming baptisms

o    Help set up Bishop interviews

o   Welcome child to ward (in primary on Sunday or in their home)

6.      Responsibilities of the Bishop

o   Interview children in their ward before baptism

o   Inform Brother Jesse Wilkinson, (the High Councilman over Primary and Stake leader in charge of conducting and setting up our stake baptisms) of each child being baptized at least the Saturday before the baptism occurs

o    A member of Bishopric should attend stake baptism day, whenever a child from their ward is having ordinance performed

7.      FAQ

o   If the first available date does not work for a family, what should they do?

§  They should be offered the next available baptism date

§  Members should not request a special day or time for individual baptisms. (Handbook 2)

o   “Welcome” into the ward should be done at ward level

§  Primary presidents can present and welcome children in primary or during personal visit to their homes

o   Families should leave their baptismal clothing in the hamper in the bathroom. They will be gathered and washed following the services.